Matt Stutzman Becomes the First Para Athlete to be Named Archer of the Year
Paralympic champion Matt Stutzman has been named Archer of the Year and Para Men’s Archer of the Year by World Archery, capping an incredible 2024.
Also, in a career littered with firsts, Stutzman became the first para athlete to be named “Archer of the Year.”
In claiming compound open gold in Paris, 42-year-old Stutzman became the first armless archer to do so, cementing his legacy not simply within the Paralympic movement, but within world archery also.
"When I first picked up a bow, I had no idea the heights it would take me,” Stutzman said. “Archery has changed my life in too many ways to count, and I am beyond honored to receive this award. Go Team USA!"
Prior to the Paris Games, Stutzman indicated that retirement from archery would follow whatever unfolded in the French capital. He announced his retirement last month, leaving the sport in a far better place.
Within moments of defeating Ai Xinliang (CHN) for the gold medal, Stutzman was already contemplating the impact of not only his Paris performance but of his career and the path it carved out for others to follow.
“Do you know how many armless archers are here shooting and feeling what I felt when I first started shooting? It’s not about winning the medals, it’s about the fact that they’re competing against people, they’re winning.
“These armless archers are feeling what I felt a long time ago. They’re feeling the joy and the excitement and the passion of being able to compete on the world’s greatest stage and win, against people with arms.”
Stutzman was not the only Team USA archer recognized by World Archery. Sawyer Sullivan received the Breakthrough of the Year award. Among his highlights in 2024 was winning triple gold at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Korea, triumphing in compound men, compound mixed team (with Olivia Dean) and in the compound men's team competition (alongside James Lutz and Kris Schaff).
"I don't know what to say," Sullivan told World Archery. "I'm super thankful for World Archery for putting these awards on. I think it really helps the sport of archery in getting the sport to other people. People ask me what my goal for 2025 is and I don't think you can put a price on getting more people involved in archery."
USA Archery Announces New Management of the Olympic Archery in the Schools Program
USA Archery has announced that it has assumed management of the Olympic Archery in the Schools (OAS) program, formerly operated by the Easton Foundations. This program introduces Olympic-style archery to middle and high school students through a unique competition format inspired by the Olympic Games.
By joining their school's archery team, students gain the opportunity to compete against other teams in their region, as well as the opportunity to compete for state and national championship titles while developing critical skills and leadership qualities.
As the national governing body for archery in the United States, USA Archery has a long-standing commitment to developing youth participation in the sport. USAA’s programs, such as Explore Archery and the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD), are widely recognized for their success in fostering archery’s growth through youth clubs across the country. The addition of the OAS program reinforces USAA’s mission to inspire young archers and cultivate future leaders and competitive athletes.
The Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF), which founded and built the OAS program, recognized that with USA Archery’s expertise in managing large, youth-centered sports initiatives, the OAS program would reach its full potential.
Caren Sawyer, Executive Director of the Easton Sports Development Foundation, explained: "Our foundation has always focused on inspiring growth in archery. By partnering with USA Archery, we are entrusting the program to an organization with deep experience in youth sports management.
“This collaboration will allow OAS to grow and further increase participation in archery while we continue working with our partners across the sport to support other key initiatives."
In alignment with its mission, USAA will also continue the OAS “I AM an Archer recognition program” which is based on sixteen of the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets®. This initiative acknowledges students for demonstrating key values such as respect, leadership, honor, and confidence - core principles reflected in USA Archery’s High Performance Ethos.
Mary Emmons, Chief of Sport Performance and Operations at USA Archery, shared her enthusiasm for the transition: "USA Archery is well-positioned to expand and enhance the OAS program. We deeply appreciate the Easton Foundations’ support as we take this next step. OAS will fit seamlessly within USAA’s athlete development pipeline, preparing young archers for collegiate opportunities, national teams, and lifelong enjoyment of the sport.”
For more information on the Olympic Archery in Schools program visit the website, or contact USA Archery at oas@usarchery.org.
Pope and Young Announces Change to Non-Typical Whitetail Deer Category
Pope and Young recently announced a change to the minimum score required for non-typical whitetail deer. In December of 2024, the Board of Directors, at the recommendation of the records committee, agreed to lower the required number of abnormal points (in inches) for non-typical whitetail deer from 15 inches to 10. Additionally, the Board also agreed to lower the minimum entry score for non-typical whitetail deer from 155 inches to 145.
“When we implemented the 15 inches of abnormal points required 24 years ago, many of our members and measurers felt that number may have been too high, especially when compared to our other deer species,” said P&Y Records Chairman, Roy Grace. “So, with 24 years of additional data to review and analyze, the committee concluded that it was, in fact, too high. The data suggested that 10 inches of abnormal points was a more appropriate number, with the minimum score of 145 inches.”
This change took effect on January 1, 2025, and is retroactive. Those trophies already in the records system that meet this criterion will be moved to the appropriate category and the trophy owner(s) notified. New certificates will be available for trophy owners affected by this change via e-mail at no charge. If you would like the office to print and mail you a new certificate, Pope and Young would be happy to fulfill that request for a minimal cost. This entire process will take a little time for staff to complete, so Pope and Young says that your patience is welcomed.
If you feel your non-typical whitetail deer may now meet this requirement, feel free to contact the nearest official measurer near you. To find a measurer in your area, click here.
If you have any questions, contact the records program at the Pope and Young Club at records@pope-young.org.
2025 Lancaster Archery Classic and Easton Youth & Collegiate Trophy Tournament
The 2025 Lancaster Archery Classic and Easton Youth & Collegiate Trophy Tournament was one for the ages.
Three archers posted perfect scores – one of whom took home a special $20,000 prize – a record number of competitors from around the globe turned out and more than $200,000 in prize money was claimed.
The 21st annual Classic held Jan. 23-26 in Manheim, Pennsylvania, drew a record attendance of 3,014 archers from 21 countries – marking the first time the tournament passed 3,000 competitors.
That number includes a record number of more than 800 youth archers who participated in the youth tournament, which is a special tournament within the Classic that allows young archers the chance to experience a major archery tournament for a fraction of the cost and time commitment required by the Classic.
Open Pro archer Bodie Turner, 17, of Washington, became the first archer at the Classic ever to post three perfect qualifying round scores of 660. At the Classic, the inner-most scoring ring, which often is considered the X ring, is worth 11 points, which is why the top score for the 60-arrow qualifying round is 660. Besides this year’s perfect round, Turner posted his previous 660s in 2022 and 2023.
Also shooting perfect 660s at the Classic were Open Pro archers Mathias Fullerton of Denmark and Jacob Slusarz of New York. The three men participated in a special shootoff for $20,000 that was offered up to one archer who posted a 660 score. Ultimately, a one-arrow, closest-to-the-center tiebreaker left Fullerton on top to take home the $20,000 prize.
Among the three perfect archers, Slusarz was the only one to survive elimination matches and make the finals in Open Pro. He went into the shoot-ups as the top seed, and knocked off Jimmy Lutz of South Dakota to take the championship and the tournament’s top division prize of $20,000.
Other notable, big-time winners include Elisa Roner of Italy in Women’s Open Pro, Tim Gillingham of Utah in Masters Open Pro, Mauro Nespoli of Italy in Olympic Recurve and Casey Kaufhold of Pennsylvania in Women’s Olympic Recurve.
Full results for the Classic are available here, and full results for the Easton Youth and Collegiate Trophy Tournament can be found here. Lancaster Archery has a full stable of videos from this year’s Classic, including individual finals videos for each of the 17 divisions, which can all be seen here.
USA Archery Coach Of The Year Awards Revealed
Members of the USA Archery staff and Coach Advisory Council vote for Coach of the Year recipients based on information gathered during the nomination process. All information provided to the selection committee is anonymous. This allows the selection committee to vote solely on a nominee’s ability to intentionally provide high-quality coaching, demonstrate application of evidence-based practices, display an athlete-centered approach, and create measurable results in developing athletes.
The Developmental Coach of the Year award recognizes coaches who exemplify excellence in coaching through application of their expertise, and the use of evidence-based practices. It honors an individual who prioritizes an athlete-centered approach and demonstrates a commitment to high-quality coaching.
The Volunteer Coach is acknowledged for the same qualities as a Developmental Coach. However, a Volunteer Coach of the Year recipient does not receive payment of any form for their involvement in coaching. These awards are based on the coach’s accomplishments throughout 2024 alone.
Coach Hyang Soon Seo — 2024 Female Developmental Coach of the Year
Coach Hyang Soon Seo is a highly dedicated and accomplished archery coach known for her commitment to quality coaching and continuous self-improvement. Her journey from a self-taught Olympian (1984 individual gold in Los Angeles at the age of 17) to a master coach has shaped her approach, emphasizing meticulous technique, resilience and personalized training for each athlete.
Her coaching strategy blends foundational skills with modern techniques, and she prioritizes not only technical proficiency but also mental discipline, resilience, and patience. Coach Hyang Soon Seo is deeply respected for her expertise, warmth, and genuine care for her athletes, creating a supportive environment that nurtures growth both in archery and in life.
Coach Dewitt Blunden — 2024 Male Developmental Coach of the Year
Coach Dewitt Blunden’s athletes share that he is an archery expert who eagerly shares his knowledge with students, colleagues and fellow archers. He is passionate about improving and refining archery techniques, offering detailed insights and methods to help others enhance their skills.
Coach Blunden stays current with new training methods and is proactive in seeking feedback from other coaches to expand his coaching techniques, always striving to improve his approach for his students' benefit.
Coach Chad Jones — 2024 Male Volunteer Coach of the Year
Coach Chad Jones is a dedicated coach focused on continuous self-improvement and enhancing his coaching skills. He embraces modern coaching methodologies and has attended multiple Regional Elite Program camps, even outside his region, as a Parent Coach. Observing at these camps exposed Coach Chad to advanced techniques in high-performance training.
Coach Chad prioritizes individual athlete development, regularly discussing goals with each archer and tailoring training plans to meet those objectives. His personalized coaching approach motivates athletes and ensures they receive both individual attention and strong team support. Notably, Chad played a key role in helping John Shelby Stephens achieve second place at the World Field Trials and supported him through the World Archery Field Championships, where John Shelby placed ninth. Chad's dedication to his athletes' success is evident in his willingness to invest time and resources in their growth.
